10 Best US Credit Cards for Travel in 2025: In 2025, American travelers have more choices than ever when selecting the best travel rewards credit cards, whether for business or leisure. These cards offer generous points, miles, and perks, from airport lounge access and trip insurance to flexible redemption and impressive sign-up bonuses.
Choosing the right travel credit card can significantly enhance every trip while maximizing daily spending rewards. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top credit cards for travel rewards in the United States this year.
Maximizing Travel Rewards in 2025
Travel credit cards are indispensable for frequent flyers, family holidaymakers, and business travelers alike.
With ongoing inflation in travel costs and ever-increasing expectations for comfort and convenience, a reliable rewards credit card is the ticket to savings, upgrades, and memorable travel experiences.
This article reviews the most acclaimed travel rewards cards available in the US marketplace for 2025, focusing on those that offer the best value, most flexible redemption options, and coveted travel benefits.
Top 10 Travel Rewards Credit Cards: Features & Comparison
Below is a ranked table detailing the top 10 travel credit cards in the US for 2025. Criteria include welcome bonuses, ongoing rewards, travel perks, annual fees, and redemption flexibility. All names, features, and data are current to September 2025 and focus on American cardholders.
| Rank | Card Name | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus* | Rewards Rate | Best For | Notable Perks |
| 1 | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $795 | 125,000 pts / $6k | 4x flights/hotels, 8x Chase Travel | Luxury & premium travel | Priority Pass lounges, $300 travel credit |
| 2 | Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 | 80,000 pts / $6k | Up to 5x travel/dining | Luxury perks & lounges | Centurion lounge access, hotel upgrades |
| 3 | Capital One Venture X Rewards | $395 | 75,000 miles / $4k | 2x-10x on travel | Flexible travel & perks | $300 travel credit, Priority Pass lounges |
| 4 | Chase Sapphire Preferred® | $95 | 75,000 pts / $5k | 1x-5x travel/dining/groceries | Entry-level & everyday travel | 5x on Chase Travel, 3x dining, transfer partners |
| 5 | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ | $95 | 60,000 pts / $4k | 4x flights, 5x hotels, 3x dining | Airfare/hotels/dining | $50 airfare credit, no foreign txn fees |
| 6 | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® | $150 | 130,000 pts / $3k | Up to 12x at Hilton properties | Hotel stays & Hilton loyalty | Hilton Gold status, free nights |
| 7 | Citi Strata Premier® | $95 | 60,000 pts | 3x on travel/dining/gas | Everyday travel spending | No foreign txn fees, flexible ThankYou points |
| 8 | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex | $350 | 90,000 miles / $4k | 3x Delta, 2x hotels/cars/dining | Delta flyers | Free checked bags, Medallion® status boosts |
| 9 | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Amex | $650 | 185,000 pts / $5k | 2x-6x at Marriott hotels | Marriott travelers | Marriott Platinum Elite status, annual free night |
| 10 | Bank of America® Premium Rewards® | $95 | 60,000 pts / $4k | 2x travel/dining | Bank of America users | $100 travel statement credit, flexible redemption |
(*Welcome bonus reflects spend needed to earn it, as of September 2025. Terms apply.)
Card Features Explained
Premium Travel Experiences
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Amex Platinum Card® continue to dominate for travelers seeking luxury, with industry-leading lounge access, statement credits, and hotel perks.
Annual fees are higher than most, but the value delivered via travel credits and elite access often offset fees within the first year, especially for frequent travelers.
Flexible Points and Redemption
The Capital One Venture X Rewards and Chase Sapphire Preferred® offer outstanding flexibility for points transfer, redemptions across airlines and hotels, and robust bonus earning categories.
These cards work seamlessly for those chasing both domestic and international trips, paired with moderate fees and high welcome bonuses.
Airline & Hotel Loyalty Cards
Cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex and Hilton Honors Surpass® provide cardholders with excellent earnings when tied to specific airline or hotel programs.
Perks such as complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, and annual free hotel nights can substantially increase savings for those loyal to particular brands.
Generalist and Everyday Rewards
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ and Citi Strata Premier® cards guarantee strong returns on a wide array of travel and dining purchases, offering competitive points on direct airline and hotel bookings (not just through portals), with minimal to moderate annual fees
. These options benefit travelers who value simplicity and flexibility, alongside the ability to redeem for various programs.
Comparing Travel Card Rewards & Fees
To help travelers navigate options, here’s a deeper breakdown of core metrics:
| Card Name | Points per $1 (Travel) | Points/Miles per $1 (Dining) | Foreign Transaction Fees | Lounge Access | Annual Travel Credit |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 4x/8x | 3x | None | Yes | $300 |
| Amex Platinum | Up to 5x | Up to 5x | None | Yes | $200 |
| Capital One Venture X | Up to 10x | 2x | None | Yes | $300 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Up to 5x | 3x | None | No | None |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ | 5x/4x | 3x | None | No | $50 airfare |
| Hilton Honors Surpass® | 12x (at Hilton) | Up to 5x | None | No | Free night |
| Citi Strata Premier® | 3x | 3x | None | No | None |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex | 3x | 2x | None | No | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Amex | Up to 6x | 2x | None | Yes | Free night |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® | 2x | 2x | None | No | $100 |
All listed travel cards in 2025 are designed for international use and eliminate foreign transaction fees, saving cardholders an average of 3% per dollar spent abroad.
Application Recommendations
Who Should Apply for Which Card?
- Luxury travelers: For frequent international flyers who want maximum airport lounge access, travel credits, and top-tier service, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Amex Platinum Card® are ideal.
- Family & leisure travelers: Capital One Venture X and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ provide flexible benefits, easy redemption, and solid everyday returns.
- Airline loyalists: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex is best for regular Delta flyers wanting priority boarding and checked bags.
- Hotel-focused travelers: Hilton Surpass® and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® supercharge hotel stays with status upgrades and free nights.
- Budget-conscious travelers: Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Citi Strata Premier®, and Bank of America Premium Rewards® combine lower annual fees with practical rewards.
Travel Card Trends in 2025
The travel credit card market continues to move towards comprehensive benefits, flexible redemption, and premium experiences. More issuers are enhancing digital travel portals, including new partnerships for hotel and flight bookings.
Lounge access, trip protection features, and sustainable travel spending bonuses have become standard drivers in American cardholder preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Which travel rewards card offers the highest lounge access in 2025?
A1: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Platinum Card® from American Express each offer extensive lounge access networks for US travelers.
Q2: Are there good travel reward cards with lower annual fees?
A2: Yes, cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Citi Strata Premier®, Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠, and Bank of America Premium Rewards® have annual fees well under $100 while still providing solid travel perks.
Q3: Is it worth paying a high annual fee for premium travel cards?
A3: For frequent travelers who maximize travel credits, welcome bonuses, and airport lounges, premium travel cards can pay for themselves in savings and comfort.
Q4: Which airline or hotel branded card is best for loyalty points?
A4: Hotel loyalists get the most value from Hilton Honors Surpass® and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®; Delta flyers benefit most from the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex.
Q5: Do these travel rewards cards offer insurance and trip protection benefits?
A5: Most top travel credit cards provide trip cancellation, rental car insurance, lost luggage insurance, and purchase protections as standard features.
